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Formula One team boss confirms Bahrain Grand Prix doubts

The Formula One series is in China this week before its scheduled stop in Bahrain. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Doubts continue to linger over the Bahrain Grand Prix, set to be held on April 22.

Until now, Formula One insiders have said that they have faith in the FIA and Formula One Management to make the right decision, but on Monday, a team boss spoke out about his fears for the safety of his personnel should the race go ahead in the troubled country. Speaking anonymously, he made it clear to the United Kingdom's Guardian newspaper that the teams are concerned, despite there being no formal government advice against going.

The race is a week after the Chinese Grand Prix, so teams have already made plans to send personnel either to Bahrain or straight back to Europe, should the race be cancelled.

“I feel very uncomfortable about going to Bahrain,” said the team boss. “If I'm brutally frank, the only way they can pull this race off without incident is to have a complete military lockdown there. And I think that would be unacceptable, both for Formula One and for Bahrain. But I don't see any other way they can do it.

“We're all hoping the FIA calls it off. From a purely legal point of view, in terms of insurance and government advice, we are clear to go. But what we find worrying is that there are issues happening every day.

“Other team principals are going through the same worries. I spent all last week making sure the insurances are right so I can reassure the teams. I've sent out an e-mail to our legal department to make sure all our employees are covered for acts of terrorism and civil disorder while traveling to, during and coming back from the Bahrain GP.”

He stressed that the main concern was for staff: “We have a lot of people. Our first and foremost priority has to be our employees and their families. That's what concerns us most, even though we've not said anything about it. It seems to me that while there has been some political progress in Bahrain, they're not quite ready. The best thing would be for the race to be postponed until later in the year, or even canceled.

“But that is a decision that must be made by the FIA, FOM [Formula One Management] and the commercial-rights holder. I never anticipated a decision being made until the week before China. I believe [FIA president] Jean Todt is in China, which is interesting.”